EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF EASTERN OREGON DIOCESAN COUNCIL RETREAT. Minutes of the Meeting November 9-11, 2012 Kimsey Commons, Ascension School, Cove

Transcription

1 PRESENT: The Rt. Rev. Bavi Nedi Rivera, Bishop EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF EASTERN OREGON DIOCESAN COUNCIL RETREAT Minutes of the Meeting November 9-11, 2012 Kimsey Commons, Ascension School, Cove Class of 2013 Class of 2015 Laurance Kerr, S/C Ann Havill, S/C The Rev. Anna Carmichael, S/C The Rev. Dan Gardner, S/C Ruth Tsu Doug Boone The Rev. Kathy Macek Karla Nash The Rev. Dan Lediard Class of 2014 Don Dickinson Ex-Officio Kim McClain Doug Harder, Secretary of Convention Jerry Frazier, Treasurer ABSENT all excused Charles Cagle, Class of 2013 Seat & Voice Julie Sarazin, S/C, Class of 2014 Diane Adams, Secretary to Council The Rev. Jim Mosier, S/C, class of 2014 Neva DeMayo, Ecumenical Associate Member The Rev. Rich Landrith, Class of 2014 Sue Powers, Class of 2012 The Rev. Paul Morton, S/C, Class of 2012 * * * * * * * * Friday, November 9, 2012 A Standing Committee meeting preceded the Diocesan Council meeting. Diocesan Council gathered at 5 p.m. in the conference room. Patty Lindsey, Ascension School Executive Director, welcomed Council to Ascension School. Evening Prayer was led by Anna Carmichael. Bishop Nedi reviewed the proposed agenda for the weekend. Adjustments to the agenda were made. At 5:30 p.m., Council members broke into small groups for the first of several storytelling sessions in which they each had an opportunity to share personal stories of faith journeys. Convention Review At 6:15, Council reconvened to debrief the Convention experience. Members commented on the quality and variety of music, good participation, healthy dialog, and wonderful hospitality. Comments were made about the quality of the venue and the ease of accommodation for holding Convention in Bend. The symbolism and experience of bringing water to mix in the baptismal font and then receiving bottles of the mixed water to take home was commented on. Comment was made that there was a sense that the diocese is in a good place; poorer in dollars, but richer in other ways.

2 Minutes of Diocesan Council, November 9-11, 2012 Page 2 At 7:30 p.m., following dinner, Council engaged in a second round of storytelling. Business and Orientation Anna Carmichael moved acceptance of the August, 2012, Diocesan Council minutes. The motion was seconded and passed. Bishop Nedi reviewed the canonical differences between Standing Committee and Diocesan Council. Discussion followed regarding the role of Diocesan Council in diocesan leadership. It was expressed that Diocesan Council provides connection between the parishes. Responsibilities of Council members were discussed in terms of being present at meetings and the importance of parish visits and member s responsibility to make parish visits. Parish visits were discussed. Members commented on the variety of experiences between visits outside of the Convocation and staying within the Convocation, visiting individual parishes and making visits to Convocation gatherings. It was noted that visiting in pairs is preferred and it was suggested that a pair might be one Council member from within the Convocation and one Council member from outside. Bishop Nedi mentioned that the recommended book for Epiphany/Lent book study is Christianity After Religion by Diana Butler Bass. Standing Committee Report Anna reported that Standing Committee had approved the minutes of their previous meeting, oriented new members and discussed the status of Diocesan House. She noted that officers for the coming year have been elected: The Rev. Anna Carmichael, President; Julie Sarazin, Secretary. The Diocesan Council meeting recessed at 9 p.m. following Compline. * * * * * * * * Saturday, November 10, 2012 The meeting reconvened at 9:00 a.m. Morning Prayer was led by Doug Boone. A third storytelling session followed. The meeting reconvened at 10 a.m. with discussion of the Special Rules of Order adopted by Diocesan Council for trial use in March, Anna Carmichael moved acceptance of the Special Rules of Order for Diocesan Council Meetings as amended by discussion. The motion was seconded and passed. (See separate document.) During the discussion of the rules of order, the candidate nomination form from Convention was discussed. An ad hoc committee consisting of Doug Harder and Ruth Tsu was formed to look at revising the candidate nomination form for use in Mutual Ministry Review (MMR) Discussion followed regarding what the MMR indicates Council should pay attention to and tend to in the coming year. The following suggestions were made: - Produce a themed newsletter article each month about what parishes are doing (e.g. community gardens, etc.) with contacts for more information

3 Minutes of Diocesan Council, November 9-11, 2012 Page 3 - Develop a mechanism for getting information on parish outreach and dispersing the information Get Jeanie Senior involved Send specific questions related to a ministry for each parish to respond to - Produce a version of Vestry Papers specific to the diocese - Doug Harder challenged Council members and parishes to send Jeanie something monthly. Financial Report Jerry Frazier reviewed the September diocesan financial statement. He noted that assessment income is low. He called attention to Duncan and Investment Income noting that these are transfers that will be made at the end of the year as needed. Jerry reviewed expenses and also noted that Ascension support expense will be adjusted by transfers from Ascension School income. The Ascension School financial statement was reviewed. Suggestion was made that, with the Ascension positions being moved to the 2013 diocesan staff budget, it might be helpful to have job descriptions for staff positions. Jerry and Bishop Nedi stated that job descriptions might be available in a few months as the transition of duties progresses. Jerry reviewed the current contract with the bookkeeping service and commented that some of the work may be transferred to Ascension. The assessment report for October was distributed and reviewed. Jerry commented on diocesan investments saying that the diocese gets a good return from a highly managed account with Wells Fargo. He talked about the different investment options through The Episcopal Church. Jerry stated that he has been in conversation with the Church Investment Group (CIG) and that there is potential for moving diocesan investments to this management group. He stated that the Finance Committee will be looking at that possibility. Discussion followed. Jerry reported that the 2007 and 2008 materials are in the hands of the auditor. He stated that he expects the field work to be done before the end of the year. Jerry said that he expects audits through 2010 to be done before the end of the first quarter of 2013 and to be up to date on audits before the 2013 Convention. The reason for the back-log of audits was reviewed. Later in the meeting, Bishop Nedi presented an idea for consideration, suggesting the possibility of charging her expenses to Diocesan House rather than to her travel expenses when she stays in The Dalles. It was noted that she normally has stayed at Diocesan House when in The Dalles or at Ascension when on the east side of the diocese, thus reducing travel expense within the diocese. The meeting recessed for lunch and afternoon break following Noonday Prayer led by Sue Powers and Neva DeMayo. Jerry Frazier, as previously arranged, left the meeting prior to reconvening in the afternoon. The meeting reconvened at 2 p.m. with a fourth storytelling session. Supply Clergy Policy The supply clergy policy and procedures effective Jan. 1, 2009, were reviewed and discussed.

4 Minutes of Diocesan Council, November 9-11, 2012 Page 4 Anna Carmichael moved acceptance of the policy and procedures with a ten dollar ($10) increase in each category. The motion was seconded and passed. Resolution for Oregon Trail Evangelist/Episcopal Journal mailing permit Ruth Tsu moved the resolution as required by the United States Postal Service for mailing permit: Resolved that a copy of Episcopal Journal/Oregon Trail Evangelist be sent to each member of The Episcopal Church in the Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Oregon as identified by the parish of which he/she is a member. Housing Resolution The motion was seconded and passed. Doug Boone moved the following resolution: WHEREAS, section 107 of the Internal Revenue Code permits a minister to exclude from gross income a church-designated allowance paid to him or her as part of his or her compensation for services as a minister, to the extent used by him/her for actual expenses in owning or renting a home; and WHEREAS the Rt. Rev. Bavi Rivera is employed as a minister of the Gospel by the Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Oregon which does not provide a residence for her, Diocesan Council resolves that of the total compensation received during 2013, $3000 per month shall be designated a parsonage allowance within the meaning of that term as used in Section 107 of the IRS Code of The motion was seconded and passed. Bisbee Grants The application from St. Peter s, La Grande for a Bisbee grant for University Christian Ministries, Inc/Koinonia House was reviewed. In response to a question, Kathy Macek reviewed the program at Koinonia House. The grant request was for $500. $5230 was available for 2013 grants from the Katherine Bisbee II Fund. Anna Carmichael moved to amend the grant request to $5000. The motion was seconded. Discussion followed. Don Dickinson moved to amend the resolution to $2500. The motion was seconded. Discussion followed. The amendment to the resolution passed by a majority. There was agreement to table the vote on the amended motion until later in the meeting. Following other business, Council returned to the motion just before the recess at 5 p.m. Discussion continued. Doug Boone moved the question. The motion passed by a majority. It was expressed that the letter of award address the increased grant by

5 Minutes of Diocesan Council, November 9-11, 2012 Page 5 stating that Council wished to be supportive of the ministry and is excited about the work being done. Ascension School Board The diocesan Canon requiring Diocesan Council to affirm appointments to the Ascension School Board for three year terms was reviewed and discussed. Council members received a list of Ascension School Board appointments in the pre-meeting packet. It was noted that only the two latest appointments have terms of office and that School Board members have agreed to self-determine their term expirations. Meeting Calendar Dan Gardner moved to accept the board appointments and to receive the terms of office at the January Council meeting. The motion was seconded and passed. Dates and locations of 2013 Diocesan Council meetings were determined as listed at the end of these minutes. Convention Resolutions Bishop Nedi noted that the resolutions referred to dioceses by General Convention should be available by March. There was discussion of the implications of the diocesan Convention resolution in response to the Bishop s Address. Comment was made that there is an opportunity to share insights as partnerships are explored at all levels. It was suggested that Council begin collecting stories of partnerships for a PowerPoint presentation at the 2013 Convention. Other Business Counsel entered into conversation about the appointment of the Rt. Rev. Justin Welby to be Archbishop of Canterbury. Bishop Nedi commented that he has attended a House of Bishops meeting and a General Convention and has a sense of The Episcopal Church and appreciation for who we are. Conversation about the polity of the Church followed. The meeting recessed following Evening Prayer led by Kathy Macek. Following social time and dinner, Council members joined in a game of Hoopla! Doug Boone and Dan Gardner left the meeting, as previously arranged, following dinner. * * * * * * * * Sunday, November 11, 2012 The meeting reconvened at 9:00 a.m. with Morning Prayer led by Kim McClain. Group Norms Council meeting norms for 2013 were discussed and listed on newsprint. The suggested norms are attached to these minutes as a separate document. Elections A process for nomination and election of Co-Chair and Vice-Chair was discussed. It was agreed to postpone election until the January meeting. It was suggested and agreed that each member of Council submit a few sentences listing two strengths or reasons why they

6 Minutes of Diocesan Council, November 9-11, 2012 Page 6 should be considered for the office and two weaknesses or reasons why they should not be considered for the office. There will be a time certain for submission 2013 Work Plan Work plan and agenda items for the 2013 meetings were discussed. (See the list at the end of these minutes for the calendar.) One item suggested was a discussion of corporate history as it may impact future decisions and considerations. Discussion of diocesan history followed and was considered completed. It was noted that anyone may ask at any time during a meeting whether there is a background story to an issue. Discussion followed concerning possible 2013 Convention agenda items. A question of whether there is reconciliation that needs to be done was raised. It was suggested that time be used to rediscover how the parishes and members of the diocese connect with one another. It was also suggested that Council use Convention to explore how to build on a good foundation and support partnerships. Discussion of the overall work that Council is called to do in 2013 followed. The following items were listed: - Deepen relationships - Support congregations - Support a variety of partnerships that help us become a missional church Bishop s Budget Bishop Nedi told Council that her travel expense line item (5931.3) is inadequate. She noted that the expenses charged to that line actually include all travel in the diocese, as well as travel between her home and the diocese, and travel out of the diocese on diocesan business; food and accommodations while in the diocese and while traveling on diocesan business. In addition, her continuing education expenses and hospitality expenses when she takes people out on diocesan business or buys gifts for guest presenters are charged to this line as there are no other line items in the budget for her continuing education or hospitality. MDG Funds Bishop Nedi asked Council to separate on the financial statement her travel in and out of the diocese from her other travel expenses. There was consensus to do so. Stating that a change in her insurance has decreased the amount needed in the budget for insurance, Bishop Nedi asked Council to move $2500 from Bishop s Insurance (5895.2) to Bishop s Travel (5931.3). Laurance Kerr so moved. The motion was seconded and passed. The distribution of the 2012 budgeted funds of $3316 (line ) for Millennium Development Goals (MDG) was discussed. Anna Carmichael moved that the MDG funds for 2012 go to Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) for the purchase of ten (10) high efficiency cook stoves ($1750) and the additional for micro-loans through ERD ($1600). The

7 Minutes of Diocesan Council, November 9-11, 2012 Page 7 motion was seconded and passed. Individual members donated cash to bring the total available funds to $3350. Closing Business The meeting was reviewed with statements of appreciation or wonderings. Following a break, Diocesan Council Retreat closed with Eucharist at 11:30 a.m. The final storytelling session was incorporated in the worship. Minutes of November, 2012 meetings prepared by Diane Adams, Secretary to Council Meeting Dates: January 26, Adobe Connect (There will be sessions prior to the meeting for Council members to become acquainted with Adobe Connect.) - Election of Co-Chair and Vice-Chair - Receive terms for Ascension School Board members March 15-16, St. Paul s, The Dalles - Staff job descriptions (?) - General Convention resolutions - Prepare for parish visits (listening skills) - MMRs in depth May 11, Adobe Connect August 9-10, begin at 3 p.m., Trinity, Bend - Debrief parish visits - Feedback from 2012 resolution in Response to Bishop s Address budget - Convention planning October 11-13, Convention, Ontario November 15-17, Retreat, Ascension School - Group Norms MDG distribution